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MC Conrad is a renowned vocalist and a prominent figure in the world of drum and bass music. With a career spanning over three decades, he has left an indelible mark on the genre with his unique style and captivating performances. From his early days in the rave scenes of the 1990s to his recent […]
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By Raymond Langa, Group Chief Executive of Leagas Delaney South Africa In recent years, the world has witnessed a remarkable shift in the global creative landscape, with African creativity arising as a powerful force to be reckoned with. As statistics and industry reports affirm, it is indeed our time to lead, and we have every …
President Ramaphosa bestows National Orders
President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid homage to the South African citizens and others who received their National Orders today – calling them an invaluable part of South Africa’s history.
The 32 recipients, some posthumously, were honoured and bestowed during a ceremony held at the Sefako M. Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Tshwane on Tuesday.
READ | National Orders: Heroes and heroines receive SA’s highest honour
The prestigious National Orders – the highest awards in South Africa – are the Order of Mendi for Bravery, the Order of Ikhamanga, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli, the Order of Mapungubwe and the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo.
“This year marks 30 years since we attained our freedom. This would not have been possible without the bravery, fortitude and noble acts of those the preamble of our Constitution recognises as having suffered for justice and freedom in our land.
“The men and women we honour here today have played an invaluable role in giving birth to the free South Africa that we all enjoy today. Our nation owes each of them a great debt.
“By bestowing these National Orders, we want to ensure that their contributions are recognised and spoken of by generations to come,” President Ramaphosa said.
The awards
The Order of Mendi for Bravery recipients were anti-apartheid activists who received the honour posthumously.
“They lived at a time when apartheid repression was at its zenith, and they displayed the utmost courage. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten and their memories live on,” said President Ramaphosa.
This year, the recipients of The Order of Luthuli was awarded to South Africans who contributed to “the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice and peace”.
“Several of the recipients of this year’s Order of Luthuli were brutally killed by the apartheid regime. One of them is Ms Nokuthula Simelane, who was abducted and tortured by the apartheid Security Branch. Her remains were never found.
“This is a wound that will never heal for her family, like the scars of many other South Africans whose loved ones disappeared during the repressive years of apartheid. By honouring those fallen heroes with National Orders we are saying that no matter how great the passage of time, they have not been forgotten,” President Ramaphosa said.
South Africans who excelled in the arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport were honoured with The Order of Ikhamanga.
“In this, the 30th year since we achieved our freedom, we also celebrate the democratic gains we have made in enshrining the principle of a free and independent media.
“Among those being honoured today are legendary journalists who were the voice, words and conscience of an oppressed people during the darkest periods in our history. The standard they set for media ethics and freedom are embodied in today’s generation of journalists and media workers,” the President said.
On the recipients of The Order of the Baobab, President Ramaphosa said: “As we strive to bring about social and economic transformation in South Africa, we are keenly aware of the importance of every endeavour, be it in business, in science or in innovation, being put in the service of social justice for all”.
He praised the recipient of The Order of Mapungubwe who “undertook valuable research in the aerospace field and set a standard that today’s generation of researchers will strive to emulate for time to come”.
The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo recognises those who are not from South Africa who stood in solidarity and cooperation with South Africa’s struggle for liberation.
“We honour journalists who helped amplify the voice of the liberation movement abroad, campaigners and fundraisers for the anti-apartheid movement, and activists who played an important role in the sports boycott against the regime,” President Ramaphosa said.
The President hailed the heroism and personal endeavours of this year’s recipients.
“The recipients of the National Orders are chosen by the South African people themselves. It is the South African people who makes nominations for consideration. This is most appropriate because the recipients are the heroes and heroines of the entire nation.
“The truest test of heroism is that these acts are not done for the sake of name, prestige, fortune or fame. They are done out of conscience and an unwavering sense of responsibility. They are born of a burning quest for social justice. They are anchored in the belief that the achievement of equality and human dignity for all is the highest aspiration of humankind.
“Congratulations to all who are being honoured today and to their families. The recipients shall henceforth be honoured as esteemed Members of the Orders. The people of South Africa salute them all,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 04/30/2024 - 12:39
Democracy restored the dignity of South Africans
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the advent of democracy in South Africa 30 years ago allowed all South Africans to reclaim their dignity.
The President was addressing the nation through his weekly newsletter on Monday.
On Saturday, 27 April, South Africa celebrated 30 years of democracy when millions of South Africans – most voting for the first time – cast their vote in 1994 to remove the racist apartheid government from power.
This as the President led the 2024 Freedom Day national celebrations at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Saturday.
“At times of difficulty in the life of our nation, some have found themselves tempted to question whether life has really been better under democracy. For all who experienced apartheid, there can be no doubt that democracy has restored the dignity of every South African,” the President said in the newsletter.
He called apartheid and its “bureaucratic pettiness” a “national humiliation”.
“[27 April 1994] was the day on which the country turned its back on apartheid. Beyond the great wrong that was apartheid, it was a system designed to deny people their dignity.
“This national humiliation and degradation ranged from bureaucratic pettiness like whites-only benches, restaurants and beaches, to the brute force that saw families torn apart and forcibly moved from their houses and land. People were tortured, imprisoned, exiled and killed. The so-called solution of ‘separate development’ resulted in nothing but underdevelopment for the country’s majority,” he explained.
Children of democracy
President Ramaphosa expressed joy at how people born after 1994 exude confidence “secure in the knowledge that their dignity is both respected and protected”.
“Democracy’s children are self-assured about their human rights, in their citizenship, of their role and place in society, and of their own potential.
“During apartheid, Bantu education was served up to the country’s black majority as a reminder that there was no place for them ‘above the level of certain forms of labour’. In South Africa today, equal access to quality education has enabled black children to become CEOs of companies, professors, engineers, and fighter pilots.
“Young South Africans, our nation’s future, are making their mark in the workplace, in arts, culture and music, in academia, in the high-growth tech and IT sectors, and in serving their communities,” he said.
The President said a great sense of gratitude engulfs him when observing those South Africans born post-1994.
“I am grateful that they will never have to endure the humility and indignity of previous generations, of being forced to sit on separate park benches, dispossessed of their land, denied opportunities for advancement and of being pariahs in the land of their birth,” he said.
Moving forward
Reflecting on the journey to rebuilding the nation, President Ramaphosa acknowledged that “we are not as far as we had hoped to be”.
He added that while government has done much to unravel apartheid’s legacy, many local and global challenges have hampered progress.
“In recent years, as we sought to recover from more than a decade of low growth and the era of state capture, our progress was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the loss of more than 100 000 lives in our country and caused the greatest contraction of our economy in decades.
“The public unrest in July 2021 and the catastrophic floods in parts of the country the following year led to further loss of life and destruction of property and infrastructure.
“While these events severely hampered our collective efforts to rebuild the country, they also showed the resilience of the South African people. Despite these great difficulties, we have persevered with the task of reform and recovery, to grow an inclusive economy and create jobs,” he said.
The President said government remains committed to resolving the challenges that the country faces.
“We have continued to work together to overcome the crises of unemployment, poverty, inequality and underdevelopment. These challenges impact on the lives of millions of people and undermine the dignity that we have worked throughout our democracy to restore.
“And yet we maintain our resolve to move forward with optimism. We have come a long, long way. And we are determined to go further to achieve the free, just and equal South Africa for which millions voted on Freedom Day 30 years ago,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 04/29/2024 - 09:17
Call to vote in upcoming elections
With the upcoming 2024 National and Provincial elections around the corner, a member of a Danish choir has encouraged citizens to participate in the polls.
South Africans will once again get an opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote on 29 May 2024 as the country holds its seventh democratic elections.
“If you do not vote, your voice will not be heard. Voting is a way to have your voice heard in a democracy. It is importance to participate in a democracy by voting. It is key,” Papaya choir member Lilian Andresen said on Saturday.
The choir specialises in singing South African songs in Denmark.
Speaking to SAnews during the National Freedom Day celebrations at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Andresen congratulated South Africa for reaching the historic milestone of 30 years of freedom and democracy.
“Coming to the country as it celebrates 30 years of freedom… is very special. In Denmark we have had democracy for a while and you can tend to take it for granted. Therefore, to come here and see how much it is appreciated is remarkable,” she said.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Union Buildings in Pretoria to celebrate the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s democratic dispensation following the country’s first democratic elections on 27 April 1994.
President Cyril Ramaphosa led the Freedom Day celebrations at the national event under the theme “30 Years of Democracy, Partnership, and Growth.”
While acknowledging the challenges faced by many in the country, Andresen said transformation is a journey.
“You still need to fight for your rights. It is a process. You need to keep going and never lose track of where you want to go,” she said.
With energy, enthusiasm and musical intensity, Papaya sings everything from wedding songs and Zulu war songs to the story of a South Africa that through generations of time has found courage, strength and community through music.
“We have been a choir since 1986. We come here… meet with other choirs, performing groups and dance groups. We share the culture and the music. That is how we learn.
“We then go back to Denmark to share the music and the stories with our Danish audience. The audience is very much moved and touched by it. We love the people, music, culture, the stories and history. It is so rich as the country has had struggles. It is very unique,” she said. –SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Sat, 04/27/2024 - 15:55
Two township musicians have dedicated themselves to teaching children to play and read music
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Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, known simply as Shakira, is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, choreographer, and model. With her unique blend of Latin, pop, and rock music, she has captivated audiences around the world. Let’s explore Shakira’s formative years, her impressive discography and details about her highly anticipated upcoming 2024 tour: Las Mujeres […]
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The Presidency announces recipients of National Orders
The Chancellor of the National Orders, Director-General in the Presidency, Phindile Baleni, has announced the recipients of National Orders.
On Tuesday, Baleni made public the names of South Africans and foreign nationals, who will be awarded National Orders at a prestigious ceremony on 30 April 2024.
The National Orders are the highest awards that South Africa, through the President, bestows on citizens and well-known foreign nationals, who have contributed towards the advancement of democracy and who have significantly impacted the lives of South Africans.
The awards also recognise the contributions made by individuals who contributed and continue to contribute to building a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa, as envisaged in the Constitution.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will bestow on deserving recipients the Order of Mendi for Bravery, the Order of Ikhamanga, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli, the Order of Mapungubwe, and the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo.
The Order of Mendi
The Order of Mendi for Bravery recognises South African citizens who have performed acts of bravery.
The Order of Mendi in Silver recipients:
Mawilliams Kekana (posthumously): For her generosity and courageous act of sheltering freedom fighters when it was illegal to align with revolutionaries. She offered her house as a haven for liberation stalwarts against the hostile security police.
Ignatius ‘Iggy’ Mthebule (posthumously): For his gallant fight against an unjust system of apartheid. He is among many lost sons and daughters, whose demise in the hands of security police remains unknown, as he disappeared without a trace. This was at the height of political upheaval, where opposition was brutally silenced. Despite his disappearance, he left an indelible mark of courage and leadership.
Makhwezi McDonald Mtulu (posthumously): For his excellent contribution to the liberation of the people of South Africa. He responded to the brave call to join the military wing of the ANC forsaking the safety of his home to the fight for freedom and died in the process of executing the armed struggle.
Robert Anthony Basil Waterwitch (posthumously): For courageously pushing back against the oppressive system of the apartheid government. He ultimately lost his life for the ideals of freedom in the middle of the war against racism and inequality.
Coline Denise Williams (posthumously): For courageously pushing back against the oppressive system of the apartheid government. She ultimately lost her life for the ideals of freedom in the middle of the war against racism and inequality.
The Order of Ikhamanga
The Order of Ikhamanga recognises South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.
The Order of Ikhamanga in Gold recipients:
Nontando ‘Noni’ Helen Jabuva (posthumously): For her excellent contribution to the field of journalism and scholarship on the liberation struggle. Her affinity for history and storytelling through journalism informed and enlightened the nation.
Aggrey Klaaste (posthumously): For his exceptional contribution to quality journalism and as a reporter exposing the cruelties of apartheid and encouraging unity among the people of different political persuasions to fight for liberation. He was a nation-builder with a vision for an equal and thriving society.
Madala Muzwakhe Kunene: For his exceptional contribution to the arts, especially jazz music, using home-brewed sounds that are unique to South Africa. He has collaborated with some of the best talents in our country.
The Order of Ikhamanga in Silver recipients:
Agnus Gibson: For his contribution to filmmaking. He strived to provide a haven for black artists at a time when discrimination was normalised and practised with impunity. His collaborations produced iconic narratives of South African history and youth culture.
Emile Lester Jansen: For his contribution to the field of arts and hip-hop culture in South Africa. His artistry and activism formulated a unique lexicon now firmly known as Afrikaap, explaining the African origins of hip-hop.
Saray Nkusi Khumalo: For being an inspiring way-maker for many women through her quest of summiting seven mountains while raising funds. She inspires every African child to pursue what may seem to be impossible dreams.
Sophie Msoziswa Mahlangu: For her excellent contribution to the development of indigenous Ndebele arts. Her commitment to passing on knowledge to younger generations is commendable; she has become a bridge connecting generations.
Madosini Latozi Mphahleni (posthumously): For her exceptional service in preserving and elevating indigenous South African musical traditions. In a rapidly changing world, she stood as a guardian of these ancient sounds, ensuring they were not forgotten. Her commitment to passing on her knowledge to younger generations was unmatched, safeguarding the nation's identity and cultural heritage.
Trevor Dundas Mweli Skota (posthumously): For his contribution to the promotion of black African knowledge through his trailblazing work, including a biographical dictionary of notable black figures on the continent.
The Order of the Baobab
The Order of the Baobab recognises South African citizens who have contributed to community service, business and economy, science, medicine and technological innovation.
The Order of the Baobab in Gold recipients:
Blanche Valeria La Guma (posthumously): For her courageous fight for social justice and equality for all South Africans. She lived by the courage of her convictions and fought for the rights of workers and the liberation of the oppressed.
Zukiswa Patricia Matolengwe: For her commitment to realising social justice for the homeless and downtrodden using ingenious means of stokvels for financial empowerment. Her tireless work in providing dignified living space for the homeless is laudable.
The Order of Luthuli
The Order of Luthuli recognises South African citizens who have contributed to the struggle for democracy, nation-building, building democracy and human rights, justice and peace as well as for the resolution of conflict.
The Order of Luthuli in Gold recipients:
Mxolisi ‘Dicky’ Jacobs (posthumously): For his ultimate sacrifice to the struggle for liberation. His life ended by defending the principles of a just and equal society. Although his life was cut short, he remains a towering stalwart of the struggle who laid down his life for the liberation of his people.
Peter Cyril Jones (posthumously): For his courageous contribution in mobilising communities across the length and breadth of South Africa. He was one of the leading lights advocating for the Black Consciousness message of self-reliance, pride and self-affirmation for the oppressed people.
Benjamin Langa (posthumously): For his ultimate sacrifice for equality and social justice in South Africa. He endured unimaginable pain and remained loyal to the cause until the end. His legacy remains a beacon of light and inspiration to many.
Thobekile ‘Tobsy’ Madaka (posthumously): For his gallant fight against the oppression of our people. He fearlessly spoke truth to power and eventually gave his life for the democracy of South Africa. He lived by the courage of his convictions and faced the wrath of the oppressive regime.
Siphiwo Mthimkhulu (posthumously): For his gallant fight against the oppression of our people. His fearlessness and leadership belied his age as he boldly confronted the forces of oppression and eventually gave his life for the democracy of South Africa. He lived by the courage of his convictions and faced the wrath of the oppressive regime.
Prof Harry Ranwedzi Nengwekhulu: For his gallant fight for the liberation of the people of South Africa. He has straddled academia and political activism with the goal of a free South Africa always in his mind and has served as a source of inspiration for many Black Consciousness activists and others.
Kenneth Rachidi (posthumously): For his courage to face a repressive government and resist its unjust laws that promoted inequality. He lived by the ethics of Black Consciousness. His activism and vocal opposition to oppression remain a legacy and inspiration to South Africans.
Annie Silinga (posthumously): For her commitment to the liberation struggle. She played a leading role in some of the liberation campaigns. She continued to campaign against passes at national and local events.
Nokuthula Simelane (posthumously): For her incredible bravery in the face of brutal security operatives. She lived by the courage of her convictions and faced the wrath of the oppressive regime. Her ultimate sacrifice for the liberation of all South Africans will remain in the annals of our nation’s history.
The Order of Mapungubwe
The Order of Mapungubwe recognises South Africans who have accomplished excellence and exceptional achievement to the benefit of South Africa and beyond.
The Order of Mapungubwe in Silver:
Prof Mulalo Doyoyo (posthumously): For his enormous contribution to academia and research in the field of aerospace. His outstanding work continues to open doors. The sciences have been enhanced by his participation and young aspirant scientists looked up to him as a mentor.
The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo
The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo recognises eminent foreign nationals and other foreign dignitaries for friendship shown to South Africa. It is therefore an order of peace, cooperation and active expression of solidarity and support.
The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo recipients:
Huub Bammens from the Netherlands: For his contribution to promoting awareness of human rights violations by the South African apartheid government to the world via Radio Freedom. His technical skills were used to build studios for the liberation movement.
Donna Katzin from the United States: For her innovative thinking in assisting post-apartheid South African businesses get ethical investments by promoting networking between South African businesses and American investors.
Ken Luckhard from Canada: For his selfless service to South Africa through anti-apartheid activism. He organised a mass disruptive protest against a visiting English cricket team that had links with apartheid sport.
Nicholas Stadlen from the United Kingdom: For his steadfast standing with the South African liberation movement at a time when it was not convenient to do so. He believed in equality and supported exiles as a friend of South Africa.
Fulco van Aurich from the Netherlands: For his contribution to promoting awareness of human rights violations by the South African apartheid government to the world via Radio Freedom. He organised and developed a campaign in the Netherlands to support Radio Freedom.
Brenda Wall from Canada: For her selfless service to South Africa through anti-apartheid activism; she organised a mass disruptive protest against a visiting English cricket team that had links with apartheid sport.
“We congratulate the recipients and call on all South Africans to join us in celebrating these outstanding South Africans and distinguished friends of South Africa,” Baleni said. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 04/24/2024 - 11:31
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